FAQ

You have questions? We have answers.

We hope these questions and answers have helped you with some of the concerns you may have but if you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Does my pet need to go into quarantine before coming to NZ?

No pets do not need to go into quarantine prior to arriving into NZ.

To export your pets into NZ, you will need to export them from an MPI approved country. If your country approved my MPI, then you cannot import your pets directly into NZ.

You will need to move your pets to an approved country for 6 months, where they will have all the testing & treatments required to enter NZ.

i.e. China is not on the list of approved countries. You will need to move your dog to an approved country - Hong Kong. In HK, the dog will have to have all the required testing and treatments.

Here are the approved countries:

How long is quarantine?

Quarantine is a minimum 10 days.

Provided that all your pet's testing, treatments and paperwork is compliant with MPI requirements, they will be released on the 10th day provided that it falls between Monday to Friday.

MPI Vet Inspectors do not work over the weekend, so if the 10th day of quarantine falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your pets will need to stay in quarantine until Monday for release.

Can I pop into meet & talk to you before my pets arrive into Auckland?

Of course you can! We suggest you give us a call & arrange a time to pop in and meet our team.

How do I start the process of moving my pets?

We recommend checking that the country you are planning on exporting your pets from is an MPI approved country. You can check this by looking at pages 5 & 6 of the MPI Guidance Document for Cats and Dogs.

If you have found the country of export on the approved lists, we recommend reading the MPI Import Health Standard to see the requirements for importing your pet.

It is recommended to find yourself a pet shipping company in the country of export to assist with flight bookings, official veterinary appointments, testing, treatments, paperwork etc! Need help finding one? We are happy to recommend agents we work with regularly.

You will need to reserve space in quarantine for your pets once you have a date of arrival (or approximate date of arrival).

Owner holds a Student Visa or Visitors Visa or Work Visa valid for less than 12 months

What can I do to make the flight more comfortable and less stressful for my pets?

Yes, there are a few
things you can do to help your pet's flight to be more comfortable and
less stressful.

First, you can purchase the airline approved travel crate from
your pet transporter well in advance, and put it in your house so your
pet can get used to it being around. You can put some bedding inside
and slowly encourage your pet to go inside just for a few minutes,
then gradually build up their time in the crate and eventually you can feed
them inside the crate. This will make your pet feel confident and
comfortable.

Also, if possible, introduce your pet to strange noises
and surroundings so when it comes to flight time, they will not feel so
stressed when they are at the airport around loud noises.

You can pop something inside the crate that smells like owners i.e. old shirt or blanket. Just note, that anything that comes inside the crate will be destroyed on arrival, so try not to put anything too sentimental inside.

My pet will have bedding in the crate when they leave their home country. Can they have this bedding in quarantine?

No, unfortunately all bedding/items that come in the crate with them in NZ must be incinerated upon arrival. So please use old bedding for the travel and do not leave sentimental items in the crate.

What if my pets arrive into NZ late at night?

Not to worry! We collect animals from the airport 24/7. If your pet's flight comes in at midnight, we will be down there to pick them up and welcome them to NZ.

We also pick up from the airport on public holidays, please note that there will be additional charges for this service.

Can I collect my pets from the airport when they land?

No, unfortunately we
are the only ones who can collect your pets from the airport.

Will my pets be stressed in quarantine?

Most cats and dogs do remarkably well during their quarantine period.

It takes them a few days to get over the jet lag & adjust to the Auckland weather but they tend to do very well.

Our staff spend a lot of time in the kennels and cattery with all the pets in our facility. We ensure that they get a lot of attention & stimulation in our care.

Can my pets interact with other pets?

No. Your pets are in quarantine due to NZ biosecurity laws and are in isolation from other pets.

My dog is coming from a warm climate to NZ winter. Is there heating in the kennels?

During the winter, we had heaters above all our
kennels and in the cattery, each cat has an electric blanket that they can
snuggle into & heaters outside their units.

Will my dog(s) be in a small kennel throughout the quarantine period?

The kennels and runs are a good size for all breeds of dogs.
They consist of two rooms – one room (the kennel) has their bed, food and water
and the other room (the run) is for exercise and toilet. Single kennel size is
1.5 metres x 2 metres and the run is 1.5 metres x 4 metres. Double kennel size
is 1.9 metres x 2 metres and the run is 1.9 metres x 4 metres

Will my cat(s) be in a small cage throughout the quarantine period?

Each cat unit is 1 metre wide x 2 metres long x 2 metres high. There are also double size units available for families of cats. The units are two levels – (upstairs and downstairs) – upstairs has a bed, food and water. The downstairs is the play area and has the litter box, scratching post, and some furniture. Cats can see each other if they wish, but for privacy they can go upstairs into their beds where they will feel safe and secure. Electric blankets will be provided if necessary.

What if my cat(s)/dog(s) are on special food and/or medication?

Special food is not a problem, you will need to arrange with us regarding acquiring the food and onward charging or providing the food yourself. We do have refrigerators and a freezer for storage.

What happens if my cat(s)/dog(s) become ill during the quarantine period?

It is very important that we have contact details for the owner or guardian at all times, so we can make contact if a problem arises. Our staff do regular daily checks on every cat and dog in our care to ensure their well being. If a cat and/or dog are found to be ill, we will try to contact the owner or guardian first to discuss the problem, and call the Vet. if necessary. In case of a medical emergency, the Vet will be contacted immediately and the owner will be informed as soon as a staff member can get hold of them. Due to animal welfare, we will never wait for permission in the case of an emergency as this may slow down the treatment needed, but we will always keep the owner informed about what is happening with their beloved cat/dog

Can my cat(s)/dog(s) stay together in quarantine?

All our cats must stay in the cattery and our dogs in the kennels. If you have more than one dog, they can stay in the room and if you have more than one cat, they can stay in the same unit. We cannot have your cat stay with your dog.

What happens if my bitch is pregnant when she arrives into your quarantine facility?

We have previously cared for and whelped pregnant bitches in quarantine and will gladly discuss any concerns you may have. We also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the NZ Police Dog Training Centre for our professional care with whelping one of their imported bitches.

My cat(s)/dog(s) will need to be groomed while in quarantine. Can you do this, or will you allow me to do it?

No, you will need to wait until your pets have been released.

Can I visit my cat(s)/dog(s) during the quarantine period?

As of the 1st June 2018, there will no longer be quarantine visiting in any of the Auckland Quarantine Facilities.

We do understand that this can be quite upsetting. Our dedicated staff will ensure your pets have a comfortable and enjoyable time in quarantine. We treat each pet as our own, spending a lot of time with them, whether it be playing with toys, having treats and of course lots of cuddles. We visit each pet regularly and are firm believers that all pets require a lot of stimulation, love and treats whilst they are with us!

You can contact us via email or phone or Facebook for updates and photos during our office hours:

8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday - Friday

9:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturday - Sunday

Can I bring toys, bedding and treats for my cat(s)/dog(s)?

Yes you can, but all bedding and toys must be new with tags attached. Then shall be incinerated at the end of Quarantine.

At the end of quarantine, can I just take my cat(s)/dog(s) home?

At the end of quarantine, MPI will issue a biosecurity release document so your cat(s)/dog(s) can go home to you. Under no circumstances can cats and dogs go home without this biosecurity clearance from MPI.

I am not sure if I can pick my cat(s)/dog(s) up after quarantine. Can you deliver my cat(s)/dog(s) to me?

Yes, you must arrange with us whether you would like your pets to be delivered to you at least 3 days prior. We also accommodate cats and dogs after their quarantine stay in our domestic facilities. Again, this will need to be arranged prior.

What food do you feed?

For our bigger dogs, we feed Royal Canin Sensible and Butch
Chicken dogroll or Royal Canin small bites and a selection of wet foods for our
smaller dogs. For our cats, we feed Royal Canin Fit and a selection of wet
food.

What if my cat/dog has a medical condition i.e. diabetes?

You will need to send us the full medical history of the animal and the medication that is to be administered. We will assess whether we are able to facilitate your animal our facilities. It is done on a case by case basis.

Can you fly my dog/cat to other parts of NZ?

Yes, most the time we are able to fly your pets to you. If your dog is extra large, we might not be able to fly it down on a domestic flight as it might not fit in the cargo area.